Anthony Collao Attackers Charged With Murder as Hate Crime

June 24, 2011

Six New York City teenagers were charged on Thursday with murder as a hate crime for the beating of 18-year-old Anthony Collao in Queens. Back in March, the Long Island teen was killed at a Woodhaven birthday party when seven reported gang members crashed the door, refusing to pay the cover charge, and proceeded to trash the place, writing “homophobic remarks,” according to Police Commissioner Ray Kelly, on the walls in red marker and eventually setting their sights on Collao, who was beaten and stomped to death. The 21-count indictment yesterday includes upgraded charges based on new witness accounts, which take the previous charges of manslaughter and assault up to second-degree murder as a hate crime. The teenage defendants could do 25 to life if found guilty. [CBS]